WALES’ Ashley Beck says his side will be giving Tonga the respect they deserve as they look to avoid becoming the second Six Nations side to fall victim to the Pacific Islanders over the last two years, writes Iwan Gabe Davies.

The country once known as the Friendly Islands, after a warm welcome accorded to Captain James Cook in 1773 before he met a sticky end in Hawaii six years later, its national rugby team aren’t likely to be so convivial this Friday night at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

Tonga were their trademark abrasive selves against France in an ill-tempered game in Le Havre last Saturday which saw the hosts triumph 38-18.

It wasn’t the ideal way to kick off their European tour, but the Sea Eagles have a proud recent history against the northern hemisphere’s elite.

They pulled off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when they beat eventual finalists France in the pool stages of the 2011 tournament with a thoroughly deserved 19-14 victory.

And last autumn Tonga shocked Scotland 21-15 at Aberdeen, a setback which saw Andy Robinson resign in the ensuing fallout.

Centre Beck, 23, wins his seventh cap this Friday, partnering Owen Williams, 22, in a decidedly unfamiliar Wales midfield, the pair having played in just nine Tests between them.

But the duo know each other well from their days together playing at Neath Port Talbot College and for Wales Under-20s.

And Beck stressed Wales will not be taking Tonga lightly after getting their autumn series back on track with a record 40-6 success of Argentina last week following an opening 24-15 loss to South Africa.

“Like any of the island teams, they hit hard, they do like to throw the ball about, have good steppers and have a go and they do tend to give a lot of penalties away as well,” he said.

“We have got to keep playing and not try and change our pattern too much.

“They had a good win against France in the last World Cup so you can’t underestimate a team like that. Teams do tend to write them off, but we as a squad won’t be doing that.

“This is a potential banana skin if we look a week ahead (to Australia). There are a lot of boys here who haven’t played much rugby in the last few weeks. It is a good opportunity to go out and stake a claim.”